Other ABC News Sites

Fears for future of country chemists

The Pharmacy Guild warns cuts to government payments will force some shops to close

Pharmacists are warning that some of the 410 Australian country towns with just one chemist could soon lose the service.

The Pharmacy Guild says cuts to the way they're paid under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from next year will push some out of business.

President Kos Sclavos says the Federal Government has, without consultation, changed the mechanism for calculating dispensing fees.

"In a 12-month period, the difference that pharmacists get paid overall in a business will be about $90,000.

"It pushes nearly 40 per cent of pharmacies over the edge."

He says about 2,000 pharmacies will need to restructure their businesses and reduce services such as free delivery, or close their doors.

Mr Sclavos says the most immediate concern is for the 1,800 intern pharmacists, who've completed their university training, who may not be offered permanent employment in businesses that are worried about their viability.

He says the Guild is lobbying all sides of politics and hopes to have commitments before the September 7 election that the change will be scrapped.

"If there's one common theme we're hearing during this election, it's that both sides are saying they're not touching health services in terms of any impact of change of policy.

"But consumers see their pharmacists more than any other health professional."